Bikes getting the boot in Charleston, SC? Proposal shot down, but it's not over yet

Cyclists in the city of Charleston, SC may soon be faced with the daunting task of finding a legal place to park their two-wheeled rides or risk getting the boot instead. The quaint southern city has proposed regulations to crack down on cyclists who decide to defy the law by locking their bikes to parking meters, city signage, trees and the like. The proposal states that the city can immobilize the illegally parked bikes by locking them up until a $45 fine is paid. In extreme cases, the city could seize illegally parked bikes, leaving cyclists stranded.

Rather than argue this one out, we'll turn to the words of Tom Bradford, director of the local cycling advocacy group Charleston Moves:

I think this probably goes a little bit too far in discouraging the use of bicycles, if it is enforced. We pay so much attention to whether there is sufficient parking for cars, and at the same time, we want people to be more active. But if you make it very difficult to park a bicycle, then you're cutting off your nose to spite your face.

We share Bradford's sentiment, but he overlooked the obvious: the city of Charleston is strapped for cash and the revenue generated from this bike parking scheme would certainly give it a financial boost. Luckily, the city of Charleston voted against the proposed bicycle regulations for now, but several city officials said that the topic will be revisited after more bike racks are added to city streets. Hat tip to Roy!

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